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Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

₹79,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is priced lower at ₹22,464, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹57,535.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE features a 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz display. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers —. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE wins
Performance

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE runs the Samsung Exynos 2400. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is powered by the —. Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE offers a 50MP + 12MP + 8MP camera system. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has —. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE packs a 4900 mAh, 45W setup. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G uses —. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE has a larger 4900 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE wins
Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE runs Android 16, One UI 8.5. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G ships with —. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

70%

Good

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

₹79,999

Pros

  • Galaxy AI features at ₹69,999
  • IP68 water resistance
  • Long 7-year software support
  • Triple camera with 3× telephoto
  • 45W fast charging

Cons

  • Exynos 2400 is older than Exynos 2600 in S26
  • FHD+ resolution — not QHD like S26+
  • No S Pen support

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

Pros

  • At ₹22,464 it carries IP68 water resistance — extremely rare at this price in 2025
  • 177g weight is exceptionally light for a phone with these specifications
  • 32MP selfie camera with portrait video — still competitive for social media users
  • Wireless charging support is rare at this price point

Cons

  • Exynos 2100 has reached a performance ceiling — newer mid-range chips can outpace it in benchmarks
  • OS updates have ended (hit 4-year limit) — no longer receives Android version upgrades
  • No expandable storage — 256GB only
  • 25W wired charging is slow and no charger is included in box
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Starting Price
₹79,999
₹22,464
Lower price
Network
5G
5G
Launched
September 2026
—
User Rating
—
—
Available colours
Mint, Graphite
1 options
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Size
6.7 inches
—
Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
—
Resolution
2340 × 1080 (FHD+)
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
Refresh Rate
1–120Hz (adaptive)
120Hz
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
—
Screen Size
—
6.4 inches
Panel Type
—
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Brightness
—
1300 nits peak
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Processor
Samsung Exynos 2400
Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm)
Architecture
4nm
—
RAM
8 GB LPDDR5X
8GB LPDDR5
Storage
128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1
256GB UFS 3.1
CPU Cores
—
Octa-core (1× 2.9GHz + 3× 2.8GHz + 4× 2.2GHz)
GPU
—
Mali-G78 MP14
Expandable Storage
—
No
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Main
50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
—
Ultra-wide
12 MP, f/2.2
—
Telephoto
8 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom
—
Front Camera
12 MP, f/2.2
32MP f/2.2
Video
4K @60fps
—
Main Camera
—
12MP f/1.8 OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera
—
12MP f/2.2
Telephoto Camera
—
8MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
Video Recording
—
4K @ 60fps
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Capacity
4900 mAh
—
Wired Charging
45W super fast charging
—
Wireless Charging
15W wireless
15W (Qi)
Battery Capacity
—
4500 mAh
Charging Speed
—
25W wired
Reverse Wireless
—
4.5W
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Network
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
5G SA/NSA
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Bluetooth
5.4
Bluetooth 5.0
NFC
Yes
Yes
USB
USB-C 3.2
USB Type-C 2.0
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Dimensions
161.3 × 76.6 × 7.4 mm
155.7 × 74.5 × 8.2 mm
Weight
190 g
177g
Water Resistance
IP68
—
SIM
Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM)
—
Body Material
—
Plastic frame and back (matte finish)
IP Rating
—
IP68 (1.5m, 30 min)
Fingerprint Sensor
—
Under-display (optical)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
OS
Android 16
—
UI
One UI 8.5
One UI 4.1
Updates
7 years OS + security
—
AI Features
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Photo Assist, Creative Studio)
—
OS at Launch
—
Android 12
Current OS
—
Android 15 (One UI 7)
Update Status
—
Reached end of OS updates (4 years completed)
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

8GB RAM / 128GB· Mint
₹69,999
8GB RAM / 256GB· Graphite
₹79,999

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

8GB RAM / 256GB
₹22,464
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S26 FE or Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE starts at ₹79,999 and runs Android 16, One UI 8.5 with a 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz display and Samsung Exynos 2400 chip. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and offers — with —. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy S26 FE and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE starts at ₹79,999 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹57,535. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy S26 FE have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE offers a 50MP + 12MP + 8MP camera system. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides —. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy S26 FE or Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE comes with a 4900 mAh, 45W battery. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G includes —. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
What is the difference between Galaxy S26 FE and Galaxy S26?
The Galaxy S26 FE (₹69,999) uses the Exynos 2400 chip (from the 2025 flagship), while the Galaxy S26 (₹87,999) runs the newer Exynos 2600 (2nm). Both have IP68, 7-year updates and Galaxy AI. The S26 also has a slightly smaller and denser display. For most users, the FE offers 80% of the flagship experience at 20% less cost.
Is Samsung Galaxy S21 FE still worth buying in 2025?
The S21 FE at ₹22,464 is a unique case: IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, 32MP selfie, and a lightweight 177g body in this price range is genuinely rare. However, its OS updates ended in 2026 (4-year limit from 2022 launch). Security patches continue until 2027. If you plan to use it for 1–2 years, it is still capable. For longer ownership, consider newer phones with active update cycles.
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Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.